Automatic toaster



April 964 J. J. KUESER 3,129,652

AUTOMATIC TOASIER Filed Dec. 8, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 54 //v ENTOR:

%0%% am By ELL; 5 W aw ATTORNEYS.

April 1964 J. J. KUESER AUTOMATIC TOASTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1960 '1 ""Hnh.

ATTORNEYS.

April 1964 J. J. KUESER I 3,129,652

AUTOMATIC TOASTER Filed Dec. 8, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IILI M a M A ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,129,652 AUTGMATI TATER John J. Kueser, St. Louis, Mo, assignor to Knapp- Monareh Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 8, Hell, Ser. No. 74,544) 3 Claims. (6!. 9329) This invention relates to an automatic toaster and more particularly to the apparatus for effecting movements of the bread carrier of an automatic toaster.

In the providing of an effective automatic toaster wherein the bread carrier is lowered by use of a solenoid motor operating against a restoring spring, there exists the problem of insuring that the solenoid operates over the requisite time period to effect lowering the bread carriage to a position where it may be latched in position, and there exists the additional problem of insuring that energization of the solenoid is promptly terminated when no longer required, to prevent burnout of the solenoid and to provide for proper operation of the carriage return.

If interruption of the energizing circuit for the solenoid is directly mechanically linked with latching of the carriage in lowered position, then there are problems of eifecting a precise operation because if the production parts are only slightly off and if, as a result, the energizing circuit is interrupted too soon, the toaster wont work, or if, as a result, the solenoid continues to be energized, then the solenoid would burn out and the carriage will not be returned properly at the end of the cycle.

It has heretofore been proposed in a toaster that the entry of a slice of bread into the toaster would release a latch that maintained the bread carrier in elevated position, and then gravity would carry the carriage to a lowered toasting position. After timing out of the toasting period, a solenoid would be energized to effect rais ing of the bread carrier to its elevated position. Means were to be provided to prevent recycling which is always a problem where the carriage is returned to the raised position at substantial velocity.

In the instant invention the entry of a slice of bread into the toaster energizes a solenoid that pulls the bread carrier down to a toasting position while simultaneously potentializing a bread-carrier restoring spring. Means are provided for latching the carrier in the toasting position while simultaneously de-energizing the solenoid. Then, after the toasting cycle has been timed out, the latch is released permitting the potentialized spring to restore the carrier to its elevated position at substantial velocity, and means are provided to prevent recycling of the said mechanism.

It is, therefore, one object of the invention to provide a new and improved operating apparatus for automatic toasters which is effective and reliable, and particularly to provide an improved operating apparatus which includes a solenoid means to lower the bread carrier.

A particularly important object is to provide improved operating apparatus for elevator type automatic toasters, including electromotive means to lower a bread carrier to toasting position and spring means to raise it to starting position.

Another important object is to provide a toasting apparatus in which improved latch and switch means cooperate to energize and de-energize the electromotive means for moving the bread carrier between the raised and lowered positions.

An additional object is to provide simple, compact, and reliable operating apparatus for automatic toasters.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an automatic toaster wherein the bread carrier is adapted to be maintained both in the elevated position and the 3,12%,h52 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 toasting position, and wherein means are provided responsive to insertion of a bread slice to move the carrier from the elevated position, by an energized solenoid, to a latched toasting position while simultaneously potentializing a restoring spring, and wherein the solenoid is de-energized immediately after the carriage is latched in toasting position, and wherein timer means are provided for timing out the toasting cycle and to unlatch the carrier from the toasting position to permit the potentialized spring to restore the carrier to the latched elevated position, while preventing inadvertent recycling of the aforesaid mechanism.

Another more specific object of this invention is to provide an automatic toaster utilizing a solenoid motor to eifect lowering of the bread carriage and to provide a combination latch member and interrupter for the solenoid circuit which is so constructed as to operate sequentially to first latch the carriage in toasting position and to then interrupt the solenoid circuit.

Another more specific object of this invention is to provide an automatic toaster with means for sequentially effecting a first operation of latching the bread carriage in toasting position and a second operation of de-energizing the circuit of a solenoid which lowers the carriage to toasting position, and wherein the sequential operation is obtained by use of a segmented lever and the reliance upon inertia of part of the lever to obtain relative movement between the lever segments during movement of the lever.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the front end of an automatic toaster, with the outer casing removed, illustrating part of the operating apparatus of this invention, and showing the carriage in toasting position;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the toaster and the operating apparatus therefor in unloaded condition;

FIGURE 3 is a front end elevational view of the toaster of FIGURE 1 with certain parts omitted for purposes of clarity of view, and illustrating the bread carrier operating apparatus in the raised position after toasting and before removal of the toast;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating the parts when the bread carriage is in its lowered toasting position;

FIGURE 5 is a rear end elevational view of the toaster illustrating in full lines the parts in the raised starting position of the bread carrier, and illustrating in dot-dash lines how the mechanism prevent recycling; and

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of certain portions of the mechanism which operate to provide the sequential operation described hereinafter.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the device herein disclosed it should be noted that, basically, this toaster is an automatic-carrier type toaster having a bread carriage which is normally maintained in its up position by a potentialized restoring spring, and means are provided which operate, upon insertion of a bread slice into the toaster, to energize a solenoid which draws the carriage down to a toasting position while further potentializing the restoring spring. When the carriage reaches the toasting position, latch means are provided for restraining the carriage in said toasting position and solenoid cut-out means are provided for substantially simultaneously de-energizing the solenoid means, so that the carriage is only mechanically held in the lowered toasting position. Movement of the carriage into the toasting position initiates energization of a toasting means, and initiates operation of a timer mechanism. When the toasting period has been timed out, the latch means is released and the potentialized spring moves the carriage to the up position, simultaneously de-energizing the toasting means. The carriage moves upward with substantial velocity, and a mechanical lock-out mechanism is provided to prevent recycling of the toaster until the finished toast has been removed. Thereafter, insertion of a fresh bread slice into the toaster starts the cycle again.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shovwi in FIG URES 1 and 2 a portion of the fully automatic toaster of this invention, with the outer casing of the toaster removed so as to disclose the parts therein. The interior structure illustrated includes frame means comprising a base 111, a front upright end panel 12, a rear upright end panel 14, and spaced side flanges 16 and 18 extending from the end panels 12 and 14 and adapted to position side panels therein. The front end panel 12 is provided with a central vertical slot 13 through which a. frontcontrol portion of the toasters bread carriage is adapted to extend. The rear end panel 14 is provided with a central vertical slot 15, as best seen in FIGURES 3-5, through which a rearcontrol portion of the bread carriage is to extend.

The upright panels 12, 14, 16 and 1% surround a toasting space which is divided into two toasting chambers, generally indicated at 2% and 21. The space 22 forwardly of the upright end panel 12 constitutes a forward control space in which certain of the controls of the automatic mechanism are located, and the space 24 rearwardly of the rear end panel 14 defines a smaller, rear-control space within which certain portions of the control mechanism are located.

Positioned within the toasting chambers 26 and 21 are portions of a bread carrier, or carriage, generally indicated at 26. The bread carrier 26 is defined by a pair of oppositely facing, generally U-shaped, members having lateral extensions, at the ends of the arms of the U, which are connected together in spaced relation to define the forward control portion, or extension, 28, which extends through slot 13 on end panel 12, and the rearward control portion, or extension, 36 which extends through slot in panel 14.

There is also provided a pivotally-mounted, breadresponsive lever means 32 positioned generally above the carriage 26. The lever means 32 includes a pair of parallel bars 34 and 36 which extend generally parallel of the bights of the U-shaped members of the bread carrier 26 and which provide thereon lateral bread-engagingand-supporting flanges 35 and 37. The parallel bars 34 and 36 are interconencted by cross portions 38 and 39. There is defined on the lever means 32 an axial forward extension 46 which projects between the spaced flanges on the U-shaped parts of the bread carrier 26, thereby extending centrally of the forward extension 28. A pivot pin 42 carried by the forward extension 28 of the bread carriage serves as the pivot mounting for the lever means 32. The lever means 32 also defines a rearward extension 44 which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the lever means 32 and which extends through a vertical slot 46 defined in the rear end panel 14.

A part of the forward extension 28 of the bread carrier 26 is apertured at 48 forwardly of pin 42. The rearward extension 30 has a portion which is apertured at 51 There is provided a generally U-shaped elevator bar, generally indicated at 52, which defines a pair of spaced arms 54 and 56 that are positioned outwardly of the end panels 12 and 14 and which are of a length and dimension to extend through apertures 48 and defined in the extension portions 28 and 30 of the bread carrier 26. The apertures 48 and 50 are of sufficient size relative to the dimension of the arms 54 and So so that there is no binding as the carriage moves between its various posi- 4 tions. The U-shaped bar 52 defines an elongated bight 58 which is pivoted in the end panels 12 and 14, as illus trated in FIGURES 15.

The arm 56 is spaced from rear end panel 14 a predetermined distance, and a potentialized coil spring 60 is provided for normally biasing the elevator bar 52, and thereby carriage 26, toward the up position. The helical coil portion 62 of spring 66 is loosely mounted on the portion of bight 58 located between panel 14 and arm 56. An extended arm 64 of spring 60 extends in the direction toward slot 13 and is shaped to first slope upwardly from coil 62 and then extend laterally, as best seen in FIGURE 5, and to finally terminate in an upwardly opening hook 66 which engages the underside of arm 56. The end panel 14 carries a rearwardly extending stop flange 68 against which the arm 64 abuts when the carriage is in its normal raised position.

There is also positioned in the rear control space 24, upon the base 10, a solenoid coil generally indicated at 70, which is part of a solenoid motor that includes a vertically movable core, or plunger, 72 positioned generally below the arm 56. The plunger 72 is bifurcated at its upper end to provide a recess through which a portion of arm 56 may extend, and the ears of the bifurcated end of plunger '72 carry a nylon roller 74 on a cross-pin 75 for effecting a smooth operative connection between the plunger 72 and the arm 56.

Mounted on the outer side of rear end panel 14 is a mechanism for preventing recycling of the toaster carriage. This mechanism is generally of the type described in the copending application, Serial No. 59,931, dated October 3, 1960. This mechanism includes an inverted, irregularly U-shaped, cam 76 that is pivotally mounted by its bight on a pin 78. The cam 76 provides one arm 80 that is positioned adjacent slot 46, and the other arm 82 extends generally transversely of, but adjacent slot 15. The arm 82 is of greater mass than arm 80 so that the U-shaped cam is normally biased by gravity to the position shown in FIGURE 5. The arm 82 provides an inclined edge 84 which projects across slot 15. The arm 89 is shaped to define a downwardly extending finger 86 extending parallel to slot 46 and a laterally extending finger 38. A stop flange 90 is bent from panel 14 and projects outwardly therefrom spaced from slot 46 and against which the arm 86 abuts. The fingers 86 and 88 define a crotch 92 therebetween adapted to receive the extended end 44 of lever means 32 when the cam 76 is swung to the dot-dash line position of FIGURE 5. The panel 14 provides a rearwardly extending stop flange 94 which is positioned to engage arm 82 of cam 76 when the cam is pivoted by the upward movement of the carriage 26.

Turning now to the control parts which are located in the front control space 22 located forwardly of end panel 12, the toaster is provided with an energizing circuit that includes a normally open main switch )6 for controlling energization of the toasters heating elements. The blades of the main switch 96 are elongated, generally horizontally extending, flexible metal blades 7 and 98 that are separated by an insulator 99. The blades 97 and 98 respectively carry normally open contact points 97a and 98a.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, a second control switch is provided, generally indicated at 101 and includes a pair of substantially vertically disposed switch blades 1121 and 192 separated by an insulator 103. The blades 1151 and 102 respectively carry the contact points 101a and 1112a. Blade 101 is relatively rigid, while blade 1%2 is relatively flexible and is of a greater length than blade 1111, so as to extend above blade 101, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. The extended end of blade 102 carries an insulator 164 which is positioned to be engaged by switch-controlling elements hereinafter described. The flexing blade 192 has a spring bias in it which normally tends to bias the contact point 102a against contact point 101a to close the switch 1%. The switch is for the purpose of controlling energization of solenoid coil 70.

There is provided a timer mechanism and a latch lever mechanism of the type as also described and disclosed in the said copending application, Serial No. 59,931, dated October 3, 1960. The latch lever mechanism includes a pivotable arm 106 mounted for pivoting about the horizontal axis of laterally extending pin 108 carried by the frame. The distal end of arm 106 extends through a labyrinth, or positioning plate, 110 that is cut out to form an irregular aperture, or labyrinth, generally indicated at 112 which cooperates with the arm 106 to define a pair of positions for the arm 106. The labyrinth includes an upper edge 114 against which the arm 106 rests in one position, and a lower edge 116 against which the arm 106 rests in a second position. The extended end of arm 106 is connected by an inclined spring 117 to an anchor flange 118 that is mounted upon base 10, and which is of a length such that the spring 117 is normally inclined upwardly from its connection to arm 106, thereby normally biasing the arm 106 both in a direction away from panel 12 and in a direction upwardly against the edges 114 or 116.

The arm 106 carries an anvil 119 of insulating material that is positioned between the labyrinth plate 110 and the pivot pin 108. The arm 106 is shaped to define a laterally extending tongue 120 which overlies a recess 122 that is located adjacent, but slightly oflset from, slot 13 in panel 12, for a reason appearing hereinafter. The axis of pin 108 is located laterally of slot 13, so that the recess 122 is located between the axis of pin 108 and slot 13.

The timer mechanism, generally indicated at 130, is of the type generally disclosed in Patent No. 2,778,902. The timer 130 includes a spring blade arm 132, which carries a formed arm 134 of relatively rigid material, and which is spaced from bimetal arm 136 which, in turn, is normally spaced from a potentializable leaf spring arm 138 that carries a magnet 140. The extended end of arm 138 carries an impact abutment 142 adapted to strike against anvil 119 carried by arm 106. The bimetal arm 136 carries a magnet keeper 144 for cooperation with magnet 140. A heating wire 146 is wrapped around a portion of bimetal arm 136 for purposes as explained in the said Patent No. 2,778,902. The arm 134 carries an adjustable abutment screw 148 positioned to be engaged by the extended end of arm 136.

The toaster is also provided with a slide-type color control and carriage release, generally indicated at 150, of the type disclosed in the copending application, Serial No. 842,760, filed September 28, 1959. The color control includes an elongated arm 152 that is pivotally mounted on pin 154 carried on the base of the toaster. The arm 152 has an upright flange 156 which carries an adjustment screw 158 for cooperation with arm 134. The arm 152 is provided with a curved cam edge 160 and another cam edge 162 extending sharply relative to edge 160. The toaster frame is provided with a track slot 164 in which an actuator 166 may move in cooperation with the cam edge 160. The spring blade 132 operates through arm 134, screw 158, and flange 156 to bias arm 152 against actuator 166. The operation of the color control and release are as described in the said copending application, Serial No. 842,760, and it will be understood that as actuator 166 is moved along track slot 164 in engagement with cam edge 160, it varies the position of the abutment screw 148 carried by arm 152 relative to arm 136. This varies the period of the timing means 130 and thereby controls the color of the toast produced. The actuator 166 moving against cam edge 162 operates to move arm 136 against anvil 119 to efiect manual termination of the toasting cycle.

The forward extension 28 carries thereon a depending foot 170, with an insulator button 172 adapted to engage and depress the upper blade 97 of switch 96. The bread-responsive lever means 32 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 174 which extends above the upper edge of the forward extension 28 and which is connected by means of elongated coil spring 176 to a laterally extending flange 178 formed on forward extension portion 28. The portion 28 is also shaped to define a depending and laterally inclined latch foot 179 and a depressing foot 180. The foot 180 serves to engage and depress arm 106 when carriage 26 descends, at the same time the foot 179 enters recess 122 with tongue 120 above and engaging foot 179 to maintain carriage 26 in the lowered position.

Positioned on front end panel 12 is a pin 181 extending forwardly thereof and provided with an enlarged head 182. A latch lever 184 is pivotally and wobbly mounted on pin 181 in engagement with head 182. A coil spring 186 is mounted on pin 181, with one end anchored to panel 12 and the other end engaging the upper edge of latch lever 184 to normally bias the latch lever 184 counterclockwise when viewed in FIGURES 3 and 4. The coils of the coil spring 186 also permit of movement of the latch lever 184 axially of pin 181. A pair of spaced stops 190 and 192 provide limits for the pivoting of latch lever 184 under the bias of spring 186. The latch lever has one end which projects across the path of movement of the bread carriage 26 and defines an abutment shoulder 194 which is adapted to be engaged by the terminus of flange 174 on lever means 32 when the carriage rises to the up position after a toasting operation. A portion of latch lever 184 extends beyond slot 13 and is shaped to define a laterally extending shoulder 196 which is adapted for engagement and cooperation with the insulator 104 on leaf spring blade 102. A further extension 198 of latch lever 184 provides an abutment adapted to engage the edge of insulator 104. The opposite end of latch lever 184 is inwardly turned at 200 to provide a limit for movement of latch lever 184 axially of pin 180.

The arm 106 is angle-shaped to provide an upwardly extending portion 202 which carries an abutment tongue 204 that is positioned to cooperate with switch blade 102 of the second control switch 100. A bifurcated guide 206 mounted on end panel 12 provides a guide for restraining the upwardly extended portion 202 of arm 106 against displacement relative to panel 12.

The arm 106 and upwardly extending arm portion 202 are separate parts, as best seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6, which are pivotally connected by pin 208 and are normally biased to full line position of FIGURE 3 by spring 210 which coacts at one end with abutment flange 212 formed on arm 106 and connects, as shown, to arm 202. The lower end of arm portion 202 normally engages abutment flange 212. The upper end of arm portion 202, which includes tongue 204, is greatly enlarged, as illustrated, to increase the mass and inertia of arm 202. Then, when arm 106 is swung rapidly from the position or" FIGURE 3 to the position of FIGURE 4, the inertia of arm portion 202 momentarily overcomes the bias of spring 210, permitting relative movement between arms 106 and 202 so that immediately upon latching of the carriage in lowered position by arm 106, the arm 202 occupies substantially the position in dot-dash lines in FIGURE 4. Spring 210 moves arm 202 to the full line position of FIGURE 4 in a small fraction of a second thereafter.

Thus, the use of the segmented lever consisting of arms 106 and 202, and the inertia of arm 202, cooperates to eifect a sequential operation wherein the bread carriage is first latched into toasting position and then the energizing circuit for solenoid 70 is de-energized.

Operation In the operation of the toaster, the majority of the parts, except as hereinafter noted, are normally in the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 5 in full lines when the toaster is awaiting entry of a slice of bread. Upon entry of a slice of bread into toasting chamber 20 or 21, the engagement of the lower edge of the bread slice with flanges 35 or 37 of lever means 32 will pivot the lever '2 means about pin 42 from its normally upwardly inclined position down to a substantial horizontal position in the plane of the breadcarrier 26. The lever means 32, when unloaded, are normally pivoted to an inclined position by means of spring 176.

As the lever means 32 pivots downwardly, the flange 174 engages the outer side of latch lever 184, as best seen in full lines in FIGURE 2, and moves the latch lever to the dot-dash line position of FIGURE 2. When this occurs, the shoulder 196 is withdrawn from engagement with insulator 104 on spring blade 102, thereby permitting the inherent resilience of blade 102 to close switch 100 to energize solenoid coil '70. The lateral movement of blade 102 moves the edge of blade 102 into alignment with extension 198 of latch lever 184, and in that position the latch lever 134 is maintained in the dot-dash position of FIGURE 2.

With solenoid 70 energized, the plunger 72 is drawn downward sharply and this operates through pivoted bar 52 to lower the carriage 26 to a toasting position and to further potentialize the restoring spring 60. As the carriage moves down to the toasting position the foot 130 engages the arm 106 and pivots it clockwise about the axis of pin 108, as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 4, thereby swinging the tongue 120 to a position overlying the foot 179 that enters recess 122 in arm 106. At the same time, the extended end of arm 106 is moved into the lower portion of labyrinth 112 and spring 117 biases arm 106 to wobble around pin 108 to a latch position where the upper edge of arm 106 engages edge 116 of the labyrinth. As the carriage 26 moves down to the toasting position, the insulator 172 engages and depresses the blade 97 of switch 96 to close switch 96, as seen in FIGURE 4. The movement of arm 106 from the position of FIGURE 3 to the position of FIGURE 4 swings abutment tongue 204 into engagement with insulator 104 on leaf spring 102 and operates to displace leaf spring 102 to a position where the shoulder 196 on latch lever 184 may again interpose itself to prevent closure of switch 100. The engagement of tongue 204 with insulator 104 occurs sequentially after arm 106 operates to latch the carriage in the toasting position, as described hereinabove.

Thus, at the same time that the carriage has been moved to the lowered toasting position, latch means are applied which maintains the carriage lowered, the main switch 96 which energizes the heating elements of the toaster has been closed, and the switch which energizes the lowering solenoid coil 70 is, shortly thereafter, opened to prevent burnout of the solenoid. The toasting operation is then timed by operation of the timer mechanism. This includes warping of the bimetal blade 136, by heating of coil 146, toward blade 13% until the magnet keeper 144 is sufliciently close to magnet 140 to cause the two to engage, whereupon the heating of coil 146 is shunted to permit the bimetal 136 to cool and flex in the opposite direction to potentialize blade 138, and wherein the extended end of blade 138 engages abutment 148, and the further cooling and flexing of bimetal 136 eventually causes the separation of magnet keeper 144 from magnet 140, whereupon the potentialized arm 138 swings against anvil 119 to move the arm 106 away from engagement with edge 116, whereupon spring 117 pulls arm upwardly against edge 114 and releases the carriage, so that the potentialized spring 60 moves the carriage with toasted bread thereon upwardly at substantial velocity to the up position.

The upward movement of spring 60 is limited by stop 68, but the carriage 26 is free to continue to rise, and the control portion 30 of the carriage engages the cam edge 84 of cam 76, which swings the crotch 92 on arm 80 across slot 46 and thereby intercepts and prevents upward movement of extension 44 of the bread-responsive lever means 32. When the carriage settles back under gravity to being supported through arm 56 resting in hook 66 of spring 60, the weighted arm 82 of cam 76 pivots cam 76 to the full-line position shown in FIGURE 5, with slot 46 unobstructed. Then, upon manual removal of the finished toast from the toaster, the bread-responsive means 32 is free to move upwardly to its normal inclined position, because the extension 44 is free to move upwardly through slot 46.

When the loaded carriage is in the up position and before the toast has been removed, then the upper edge of flange 174 engages the shoulder 194 on latch lever 184 and lifts the latch lever to the position shown in FIGURE 3. In this position, the shoulder 196 slides relative to insulator 104 and operates to maintain switch in open condition. When the bread is removed from the toaster, the spring 176 pulls the flange 174 in the direction away from panel 12 to a position where it no longer engages shoulder 194 on latch lever 184. This permits the spring 186 to swing latch lever 184 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 3, to the position as illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 2, with lever 184 located laterally between flange 174 and end panel 12 and with the parts of the toaster reset in a position awaiting beginning of a new cycle.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A toaster comprising, in combination: a bread carrier movable between a raised, non-toasting, position and a lowered, toasting, position; first means for normally holding the bread carrier in raised position; second means for holding the carrier in lowered position; electromotive means for moving said bread carrier from raised position to lowered position; potentialized spring means urging the carrier from lowered position toward raised position; an energizing circuit for said electromotive means, said circuit having therein a control switch which is normally urged toward a closed position; latch means for maintaining said control switch open when either said first or second means is operative to maintain the carrier in one of the carriers said positions; lever means responsive to entry of a bread slice into the toaster to release said latch means and to permit the control switch to close so as to energize the electromotive means to move the carrier to the lowered position and to further potentialize said spring means; and sequentially operable means responsive to arrival of the bread carrier in lowered position for first engaging and latching the bread carriage in toasting position and for then, at a slightly later time, opening said control switch to de-energize the electromotive means, said sequentially operable means including a first elongated member positioned to engage and latch the bread carriage in toasting position, a second elongated member pivotally connected to said first member and adapted to move against and effect opening of the control switch upon latching movement of said first member, said pivotal connection permitting relative movement therebetween, and resilient means interconnecting the said two members and normally biasing said second member about its pivot toward a predetermined normal attitude therebetween, at which attitude the second member is in position to open a switch, and aliording momentary relative pivoting between said members against the bias of said resilient means when the first member is suddenly engaged and moved by the bread carriage moving into toasting position.

2. A toaster comprising, in combination: a bread carrier movable between a raised, non-toasting, position and a lowered, toasting, position; first means for normally holding the bread carrier in raised position; second means for holding the carrier in lowered position; electromotive means for moving said bread carrier from raised position to lowered position; potentialized spring means urging the carrier from lowered position toward raised position; an energizing circuit for said electromotive means, said circuit having therein a control switch which is normally urged toward a closed position; latch means for maintaining said control switch open when either said first or second means is operative to maintain the carrier in one of the carriers said positions; lever means responsive to entry of a bread slice into the toaster to release said latch means and to permit the control switch to close so as to energize the electromotive means to move the carrier to the lowered position and to further potentialize said spring means; and sequentially operable means responsive to arrival of the bread carrier in lowered position for first engaging and latching the bread carriage in toasting position and for then, at a slightly later time, opening said control switch to de-energize the electromotive means; said sequentially operable means including a first lever positioned to be engaged and moved about a first pivot axis by the bread carrier as the carrier moves toward toasting position, and a second lever positioned to be moved about the same first pivot axis and into engagement with said control switch to open said control switch upon movement of the bread carriage and first lever into latching position, said second lever being also mounted on said first lever for pivoting about a second pivot axis spaced from and parallel to said first pivot axis, means resiliently interconnecting the two levers and resiliently biasing the second lever toward a normal position relative to said first lever, which normal position constitutes a switch opening position, and said resilient bias and the inertia of the second lever cooperating to provide for said sequential action.

3. In a toaster of the type wherein an electromotive means is energized responsive to the deposit of a bread slice in a toaster carriage for lowering said carriage to a bread-toasting position and wherein means are provided both for latching the carriage in the lowered position and for de-energizing the electromotive means, the improveent comprising a movable latch member operated in response to movement of said carriage into lowered position for engaging and latching said carriage in said breadtoasting position, and a circuit de-energizing means including a switch, and a switch-engaging member carried by said movable latch member and resilient means interconnecting the latch member and switch-engaging memher, to bias said members toward a first selected attitude relative to each other in which said switch-engaging member is engageable with said switch when said latch member is in its latching position, said switch-engaging member being pivotally mounted on said latch member to permit of relative movement between itself and said latch member away from said first attitude against the bias of said resilient means upon movement of said latch member being initially effected upon engagement of the latch member by the carriage, said switch-engaging member thereby operating at a time slightly later than movement of said latch member into latching engagement with the carriage, for thereafter moving under bias of said resilient means toward said first attitude relative to said latch member and into position for opening the circuit to said electromotive means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

3. IN A TOASTER OF THE TYPE WHEREIN AN ELECTROMOTIVE MEANS IS ENERGIZED RESPONSIVE TO THE DEPOSIT OF A BREAD SLICE IN A TOASTER CARRIAGE FOR LOWERING SAID CARRIAGE TO A BREAD-TOASTING POSITION AND WHEREIN MEANS ARE PROVIDED BOTH FOR LATCHING THE CARRIAGE IN THE LOWERED POSITION AND FOR DE-ENERGIZING THE ELECTROMOTIVE MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A MOVABLE LATCH MEMBER OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE INTO LOWERED POSITION FOR ENGAGING AND LATCHING SAID CARRIAGE IN SAID BREADTOASTING POSITION, AND A CIRCUIT DE-ENERGIZING MEANS INCLUDING A SWITCH, AND A SWITCH-ENGAGING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID MOVABLE LATCH MEMBER AND RESILIENT MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE LATCH MEMBER AND SWITCH-ENGAGING MEMBER, TO BIAS SAID MEMBERS TOWARD A FIRST SELECTED ATTITUDE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER IN WHICH SAID SWITCH-ENGAGING MEMBER IS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SWITCH WHEN SAID LATCH MEMBER IS IN ITS LATCHING POSITION, SAID SWITCH-ENGAGING MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID LATCH MEMBER TO PERMIT OF RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN ITSELF AND SAID LATCH MEMBER AWAY FROM SAID FIRST ATTITUDE AGAINST THE BIAS OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH MEMBER BEING INITIALLY EFFECTED UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE LATCH MEMBER BY THE CARRIAGE, SAID SWITCH-ENGAGING MEMBER THEREBY OPERATING AT A TIME SLIGHTLY LATER THAN MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH MEMBER INTO LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CARRIAGE, FOR THEREAFTER MOVING UNDER BIAS OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS TOWARD SAID FIRST ATTITUDE RELATIVE TO SAID LATCH MEMBER AND INTO POSITION FOR OPENING THE CIRCUIT TO SAID ELECTROMOTIVE MEANS. 